Located on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles, in a nature reserve proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983, this project of eco-lodges treads softly on the land.

Working with Philippe Starck Network, we proposed a master plan of structures on studs, elevated from the ground so as not to impact their surroundings and whose decks float on the island’s existing vegetation.

The offsite construction of the prefabricated habitats allows a superficial installation on site, without having to dig any foundations.
The lodges are strictly made out of natural low-tech materials, such as renewable and recyclable wood, mud, and lime, and materials diverted and reused, such as corrugated metal sheets.
The island is further engaged by collecting rainwater and using soft techniques to purify wastewater. Local construction techniques are used, and the local community’s craftsmanship is reflected in the project, bringing together both social and environmental commitment.
The reception rooms have a roof covered by peat, cinnamon, and wild orchids that allow visual and olfactory pleasure while optimal insulation is created by using solid hardwoods in the living rooms.
The pervasiveness, sometimes to the point of intrusion, of the local flora gives the sensation of living in a protected environment within the mangrove. This strategy allows nature to invigorate architecture, to enhance it by progressively leaning more and more on it, turning it slowly into a contemporary habitable ruin, reconnecting the bonds between nature and culture.